Aviation

Aviation Autographs, Sensational Dealers' Lot Including Charles Lindbergh, 13 Pieces!

A stellar dealers' lot of aviation-related photos, letters, autographs, and postal covers, circa 1925-1949. 13 pieces total. Featuring signatures of pioneering aviators and explorers Charles Lindbergh, Richard E. Byrd, "Casey" Jones, Earle Lewis Ovington, Charles E. Rosendahl, Roscoe Turner, Edwin F. Hinkle, Louis Blériot, and Sir George Hubert Wilkins. In very good to near fine condition.

The lot consists of:

1. Period luncheon ticket pencil signed by Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) as "Lindbergh". Dated "Dec 12". Overall light toning, else near fine. 4.125" x 2.5". Lindbergh, a rather nondescript Midwestern air mail carrier, rocketed to celebrity after his record-breaking solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in May 1927.

2. Period glossy black and white photograph of Charles Lindbergh's famous plane The Spirit of St. Louis, hand-inscribed by Detroit resident Don Smith verso as "Lindbergh plane at Baltimore, Maryland - 1927". 3.5" x 4.5".

3. Period black and white photograph on Velox photo paper showing Charles Lindbergh seated in a plane cockpit wearing a close-fitting aviator's cap. 3.25" x 3.75".

4. Period glossy black and white photograph of Charles Lindbergh standing next to two unidentified gentlemen, in front of an airplane engine, possibly The Spirit of St. Louis. 6.625" x 4.5".

5. Period black and white photograph of five unidentified people, circa 1920s, standing in front of a plane. Notched in the upper right corner, else very good. 6.875" x 5".

6. Period Underwood post card showing Charles Lindbergh standing in front of The Spirit of St. Louis, captioned verso: "Captain Charles A. Lindbergh accomplished the first non-stop New York to Paris flight, leaving New York, May 20th, 1927, and arriving in Paris in 33 hours, 20 minutes, traveling 3650 miles."

7. 1p TLS signed by American explorer Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) as "REByrd" at center. Signed on July 11, 1935 on Mount Desert Island, West Tremont, Maine. In part: "My penguins went to the Chicago Zoo." Expected light toning, folds, and chipped edges, else very good.

8. 1p war-dated TLS signed by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) as "RichardEByrd" at lower center. Dated October 27, 1943. In part: "I am over the big water very far away…We lost twenty-four men the other day which was very sad. The second in command on the ship was one of them…" Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope postmarked November 3, 1943 and hand-stamped "Passed by Naval Censor." Letter is double hole punched at top, with expected paper folds, else near fine. Between 1942-1945, Byrd served on active duty in the South Pacific, which explains his reference to the heat.

9. A 3x signed "Charter Representation to the Exchange Club of East Toledo by Nat'l Pres. Thomas C. Imeson, Toledo, Ohio, June, 17th, 1931, Attended by Air Notables" postal cover, signed by early American aviators Charles S. "Casey" Jones (1894-1976) as "Casey Jones"; Charles E. Rosendahl (1892-1977) as "CERosendahl"; and Edwin Hinkle as "Major Edw F. Hinkle". Bearing a cancelled 5 cent U.S. stamp and postmarked from Toledo, Ohio on June 17, 1931. Accompanied by period newspaper clippings describing the event. Faint paperclip ghost impression found along the top edge, else near fine. 6.5" x 3.625".

10. First Day of Issue "5¢ Air Mail Coil Stamp" postal cover signed by American aviator Roscoe Turner (1895-1970) as "Roscoe Turner" at left. Bearing a cancelled 5 cent U.S. stamp and postmarked from Washington, D.C. on January 15, 1948. A few minor darkened edges, else near fine.

11. A "Twentieth Anniversary First Air Mail Flight P.O. Department September Twenty Third" postal cover signed by American pilot Earle Lewis Ovington (1879-1936) as "Earl Ovington" at bottom. With a further purple handstamp reading "Earle Ovington - Santa Barbara, Cal. / First U.S. Air Mail Pilot" at center. Bearing a cancelled 5 cent U.S. stamp and postmarked from Los Angeles, California on September 23, 1931.

12. A paper slip autographed by French pilot Louis Charles Joseph Blériot (1872-1936) as "CBlerio" at left. Pen and pencil inscribed by a former collector as "July 1. Louis Bleriot" at upper right. In 1909, Blériot became the first aviator to fly across the English Channel, winning a £1,000 prize.

13. 1p ALS inscribed overall by Australian explorer Sir George Hubert Wilkins (1888-1958) and signed by him as "Hubert Wilkins" at lower right. Dated December 19, 1949 on bifold stationery with "Hotel Schenley / Pittsburgh, PA." In part: "Have just returned from two weeks mountaineering in Colorado with the Army and Army duty will keep me busy in Arctic Canada and Alaska from Jan 14th until March…" Expected folds, else near fine, 5.375" x 6.75".

This lot comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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